Method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of an air bag

Abstract

A tamper-resistant cover for an air bag and an apparatus and method for controlling the deployment of an air bag is disclosed. The tamper-resistant cover includes one or more regions in a surface of the tamper-resistant cover that is/are less tear-resistant than the material which is used throughout the remaining portions of the cover. This tearable portion or portions readily rips upon deployment of the air bag when pressurized gas rapidly fills the underlying air bag thereby allowing rapid deployment of the air bag as desired. Selective locations for the tearable region or regions on the cover desirably may be used to assist in altering the way in which the air bag deploys during a crash or other impact. The tearable regions on the bag cover may be formed in a variety of different ways. For example, the tearable regions maybe formed by providing mechanical wear to the desired region on the cover. Alternatively, the tearable region or regions may be formed by creating the cover from first and second portions of cover material and affixing to these portions connecting elements. Deployment of the air bag is achieved by varying the thicknesses of the connecting elements. Deployment of the air bag is further controlled with the additional use of a self-centering air bag.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A connection member for use with an air bag cover, comprising: 
 a first end;    a second end; and    a central portion, wherein the central portion has less mechanical strength than the first end and the second end.    
     
     
         2 . A connection member as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first end, the second end and the central portion all include a thickness and the thickness of the central portion is smaller than that of the first end and the second end.  
     
     
         3 . A connection member as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the connection member is I-shaped.  
     
     
         4 . An air bag cover comprising: 
 first and second portions of cover material, at least one of said first and second portions of cover material located over an air bag;    at least one connection member including at least one central portion, wherein the at least one connection member is connected to the first and second portions of cover material, said cental portion having a mechanical strength that is less than a mechanical strength of the cover material.    
     
     
         5 . An air bag cover as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of connection members wherein the central portion of each has a thickness.  
     
     
         6 . An air bag cover as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the thickness of each central portion may vary.  
     
     
         7 . An air bag cover as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the connection element is I-shaped.  
     
     
         8 . A restraint system, comprising: 
 a seatbelt;    an air bag located within the seatbelt; and    an air bag cover affixed to the seatbelt and covering the air bag, comprising 
 first and second portions of cover material, at least one of said first and second portions of cover material located over an air bag;  
 at least one connection element each including at least one central portion, wherein the at least one connection element is connected to the first and second portions of cover material, said cental portion having a mechanical strength that is less than a mechanical strength of the cover material.  
   
     
     
         9 . A restraint system as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of connection elements wherein the central portion of each has a thickness.  
     
     
         10 . A restraint system as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the thicknesses of each central portion may vary.  
     
     
         11 . An restraint system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the air bag is a self-centering air bag.  
     
     
         12 . An restraint system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the self-centering air bag is sculptured.  
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling the deployment of an air bag embedded within a seat belt and covered by an air bag cover wherein the air bag cover includes connection elements each with a central portion, comprising varying the thickness of the connection elements.  
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling the deployment of an air bag as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising sculpturing the air bag.  
     
     
         15 . A method for controlling the deployment of an air bag as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the air bag includes a footprint and sculpturing the air bag comprises including at least one cutout in the footprint.  
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling the deployment of an air bag as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the thickness of the connection elements is varied so that the connection elements with the smallest thicknesses will be broken by the cutout when the air bag is deployed.  
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling the deployment of an air bag as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the thickness of the connection elements is varied so that the connection elements with the largest thicknesses will be broken by the cutout when the air bag is deployed.